Care worker, 29, is abused in the street by runner who squirted water in her face and branded her a ‘disease spreader’ as she delivered essential supplies
- Some care home workers are being targeted in the street because of uniform
- There is a misconception they are spreading coronavirus due to appearance
- Abby Jones was squirted by water while on shift by a passer-by in South Wales
- Care workers are still giving care despite then personal risk of COVID-19
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A care worker in South Wales was abused in the street after she was wrongly accused of being a ‘disease spreader’ during the coronavirus crisis.
Abby Jones, 29, had been delivering toiletry supplies when she was squirted with water by a passing runner and abused.
Abby’s bosses say staff have been suffered insults and abuse for wearing their uniforms in the street – with people fearing they may be carrying infections due to helping out the elderly and vulnerable during the pandemic.
Helen Vowles, managing director of the Trusting Hands care service said workers like Abby were risking their lives.
Abby Jones, 29, had been delivering toiletry supplies when she was squirted with water by a passing runner and abused because she was wearing her care workers’ uniform
She said: ‘I’m asking my staff to go out and put their lives on the line to protect vulnerable service users.
‘We are a poor relative to the NHS, but imagine if my staff decided this morning that they weren’t going to go to work. It would be 170 vulnerable service-users in the community ‘
Abby works for the Ebbw Vale-based company in South Wales and Helen said other staff had been abused for not changing out of their uniforms.
She said: ‘If you work in the hospital, you would change your uniform and come home in your ‘civvies’.
Abby works for the Ebbw Vale-based company in South Wales, where it has been said other staff had been abused for not changing out of their uniforms
‘When you work in the community, some people are misinformed and misled and think that we’ve got our uniforms on and that we’re spreading the virus.’
Mum-of-one Abby said: ‘It’s unbelievable how pathetic and stupid some people are. I know it was only water but I keep thinking it could be much worse.’
Helen said Abby’s abuse in Tredegar, South Wales, had been reported to Gwent Police.